Elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism

ABSTRACT

An elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism includes a frame, a swing unit, a pedal unit, a damping unit, a guiding unit and an adjusting unit. The swing unit includes a pair of swing arms swingable relative to the frame. The pedal unit includes a pair of stepping bars respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms. The damping unit is adapted for providing swing damping to the stepping bars and includes a rotating wheel mounted at the frame and a resistant member for providing a damping resistance to the rotating wheel. The guiding unit includes a pair of rocking rods swingable relative to the frame and adapted for supporting sliding movement of the stepping bars and a pair of connection rods for driving the rotating wheel to rotate. The adjusting unit is adapted for adjusting the treading depth of the rear end portions of the stepping bars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fitness equipment technology and more particularly, to an elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

Taiwan Patent M431718 discloses a treading depth adjustable elliptical exercise machine, which comprises a frame base, a flywheel set, two pedal assemblies, two handlebars, and a pedal-lifting mechanism. The pedal lifting mechanism comprises a lifting frame pivotally mounted at the frame base, and a tilt adjustment mechanism mounted at the frame base for adjusting the tilt angle of the lifting frame. The tilt adjustment mechanism comprises a power drive, a driving bar, and a bracket pivotally connected between the frame base and the lift frame. Each pedal assembly comprises a swing arm pivotally connected to the frame base, a stepping bar pivotally mounted at a bottom side of the swing arm, a first connection rod pivotally connected to the stepping bar and slidably stopped at the lift frame, and a second connection rod pivotally connected between the first connection and the flywheel set.

During operation, when a user keeps stepping on the stepping bar, the first connection rods are moved along the lift frame and forced to rotate the flywheel set for generating a damping force, thereby achieving the goal of exercising.

When starting up the power drive, the driving bar is activated to move the bracket forward or backward relative to the frame base, thereby adjusting the tilt angle of the lift frame, and also adjusting the treading depth of the stepping bars.

The aforesaid prior art elliptical exercise machine can achieve the expected purposes of use and allows adjustment of the treading depth of the stepping bars as desired. However, when the driving bar is driven by the power to move the lift bracket in lifting the lift frame, the weight of the stepping bars and the first connection rods is added to the lift frame. Therefore, the power drive bears a heavy load. Consequently, the power drive needs to use a high power motor, which increases the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism, which has the advantages of low driving load and low cost.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, an elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism comprises a frame, a swing unit, a pedal unit, a damping unit, a guiding unit, and an adjusting unit. The frame comprises a base, and an upright support fixedly mounted at the base. The swing unit comprises a pair of swing arms pivotally connected to the upright support and swingable back and forth relative to the upright support. Each swing arm comprises a tubular pivot connection portion pivotally connected to the upright support, and a swinging portion opposite to the tubular pivot connection portion. The pedal unit comprises a pair of stepping bars respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms. Each stepping bar comprises a front end portion pivotally connected to one respective swinging portion, and a rear end portion opposite to the front end portion. The damping unit is adapted for providing swing damping to the stepping bar, and comprises a rotating wheel mounted at the frame by a pivot shaft. The guiding unit comprises a pair or rocking rods swingable relative to the frame, and a pair of connection rods respectively pivotally connected between the rocking rods and the rotating wheel of the damping unit and adapted for driving the rotating wheel to rotate. Each rocking rod comprises a pivot portion, a sliding guide portion disposed at one lateral side relative to the pivot portion and adapted for supporting sliding movement of one respective stepping bar, and a linking portion disposed at an opposite lateral side relative to the pivot portion for the connection of one respective connection rod. The adjusting unit is mounted at the frame, and adapted for moving said pivot portions of the guiding unit relative to the pivot shaft of the damping unit to adjust the treading depth of the rear end portions of the stepping bars.

Thus, the present invention advantageously allows for using the adjusting unit to adjust the treading depth of the rear end portions of the stepping bars, and using the adjusting unit to move the pivot portions of the rocking rods of the guiding unit relative to the pivot shaft of the damping unit which does not need to bear the load of the pedal unit or other component parts. Thus, the load capacity of the motor can be minimized to lower the cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the adjusting unit of the elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the present invention, illustrating one rocking rod of the guiding unit moved by the actuation member relative to the damping unit to a far position and the sliding guide portion of the rocking rod in the low position.

FIG. 5 is another schematic front view of the present invention, illustrating the pedal unit arrived in the guiding unit and the rear end portion of one stepping bar in the low position.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the rocking rods moved relative to the frame and the sliding guide portion of one rocking rod in the high position.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the rear end portion of one stepping bar in the high position.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 3, illustrating an adjustment of the adjusting unit.

FIG. 9 is still another schematic front view of the present invention, illustrating the sliding guide portion of one rocking rod in the low position after an adjustment of the adjusting unit.

FIG. 10 is still another schematic front view of the present invention, illustrating the pedal unit arrived in the guiding unit and the rear end portion of one stepping bar in the low position.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the rocking rods of the guiding unit moved relative to the frame and the sliding guide portion of one rocking rod in the high position.

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 10, illustrating the rear end portion of one stepping bar in the high position.

It should be noted that the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a better understanding of the components thereof, and are not intended to be limiting in scope, but rather to provide exemplary illustrations. It should further be noted that the figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and the components thereof, and in no way limits the structures, configurations and components thereof according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an elliptical exercise machine with a treading depth adjustment mechanism in accordance with the present invention is shown. The elliptical exercise machine comprises a frame 10, a swing unit 20, a pedal unit 30, a damping unit 40, a guiding unit 50, an adjusting unit 60, a handlebar unit 70, and a linking-up unit 80.

The frame 10 comprises a base 11, and an upright support 12 fixedly mounted at the base 11. The upright support 12 exhibits an inverted-U shape, comprising a transverse rail 121 located at a top side thereof and an extension bar 122 located at a front side of the transverse rail 121.

The swing unit 20 comprises a pair of swing arms 21 pivotally connected to the upright support 12 and alternatively movable back and forth relative to the upright support 12. Each swing arm 21 comprises a tubular pivot connection portion 211 located at one end thereof and pivotally connected to a respective one end of the transverse rail 121, and a swinging portion 212 located at an opposite end thereof.

The pedal unit 30 comprises a pair of stepping bars 31 respectively pivotally connected to the swing arms 21 of the swing unit 20, and a pair of pedals 32 respectively mounted at the stepping bars 31. Each stepping bar 31 has a front end portion 311 pivotally connected to the swinging portion 212 of one respective swing arm 21, and an opposing rear end portion 312. The pedals 32 are respectively mounted at the rear end portions 312 of the stepping bars 31.

The damping unit 40 comprises a rotating wheel 41 rotatably mounted at the frame 10 by a pivot shaft 411, and a resistant member 42 mounted at the frame 10 and adapted for exerting a damping resistance to the rotating wheel 41. The rotating wheel 41 is disposed corresponding to the upright support 12. The resistant member 42 in this embodiment is a flywheel 421 rotatably mounted at a bottom side of the extension bar 122 of the upright support 12. The damping unit 40 further comprises a belt 422 coupled between the rotating wheel 41 and the flywheel 421.

The guiding unit 50 comprises a pair of rocking rods 51 swingable relative to the frame 10, and a pair of connection rods 52 respectively pivotally connected between the rocking rods 51 and the rotating wheel 41 of the damping unit 40 for driving the rotating wheel 41 to rotate. The rocking rods 51 exhibit an inverted-T shape, each comprising a main rod member 511, a side rod 512 fixedly connected to a middle part of the main rod member 511 and upwardly extended therefrom, a pivot portion 513 located at a top end of the side rod 512, a sliding guide portion 514 disposed at one lateral side relative to the pivot portion 513 and adapted for supporting the sliding movement of one respective stepping bar 31, and a linking portion 515 disposed at an opposite lateral side relative to the pivot portion 513 and pivotally connected to one respective connection rod 52. The sliding guide portion 514 and the linking portion 515 are respectively located at two opposite ends of the main rod member 511. Each connection rod 52 comprises a first rod member 521 fixedly connected to the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40, and a second rod member 522 pivotally connected between the first rod member 521 and the linking portion 515 of one respective rocking rod 51.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the adjusting unit 60 is mounted at the frame 10 and adapted for moving the pivot portions 513 of the guiding unit 50 relative to the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40 to adjust the treading depth of the rear end portions 312 of the stepping bar 31. The adjusting unit 60 comprises an actuation member 61 pivotally connected to the frame 10, and a driving device 62 adapted for driving the actuation member 61. The actuation member 61 comprises a pivot connection portion 611 pivotally connected to the frame 10, a detent portion 612 disposed at one lateral side relative to the pivot connection portion 611 for the connection of the pivot portions 513 of the rocking rods 51 in a pivotable manner, a constraint portion 613 disposed at an opposite lateral side relative to the pivot connection portion 611, and a nut 614 axially mounted in the constraint portion 613. The driving device 62 can stop the constraint portion 613 from displacement relative to the frame 10, and forces the detent portion 612 of the actuation member 61 to move the pivot portions 513 of the rocking rods 51 of the guiding unit 50 relative to the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40. The driving device 62 comprises a motor 621 pivotally connected to the base 11 of the frame 10, and a screw rod 622 rotatable by the motor 621 and screwed up with the nut 614 at the constraint portion 613 of the actuation member 61.

The handlebar unit 70 comprises two handlebars 71 respectively connected to the tubular pivot connection portions 211 of the swing arms 21.

The linking-up unit 80 comprises a pivot rod 81 swingable relative to the upright support 12 and pivotally connected to a front end of the extension bar 122, and a pair of coupling rods 82 respectively pivotally coupled between two opposite ends of the pivot rod 81 and the tubular pivot connection portions 211 of the swing arms 21.

When an operator uses the elliptical exercise machine to carry out an operating mode of free stepping and/or elliptical trajectory, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the operator's two legs are used to give force to the pedals 32 and the stepping bars 31 both horizontally forward and vertically downward, thus forcing the front end portions 311 of the stepping bars 31 to move the swinging portions 212 of the swing arms 21 and causing the swing arms 21 to swing back and forth relative to the transverse rail 121. Thus, the stepping bars 31, the swing arms 21 and the handlebars 71 are moved to produce a coordinated cross-linking action subject to the functioning of the linking-up unit 80. At the same time, referring also to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the sliding guide portions 514 of the rocking rods 51 are forced by the stepping bars 31 to cause the respective rocking rods 51 to swing relative to the respective detent portions 612 as the stepping bars 31 are alternatively stepped up and down, the rotating wheel 41 is driven to rotate by the connection rods 52, and the belt 422 is moved with the rotating wheel 41 to rotate the flywheel 421. This generates damping in the horizontal vector as well as in the vertical vector.

In addition to the aforesaid operating mode, an operator can carry out a simple operating mode of stepping up and down. At this time, the operator's two legs are used to give force to the pedals 32 and the stepping bars 31 vertically downward, thus forcing the pedals 32 with the respective stepping bars 31 to alternatively impart a downward pressure to the sliding guide portions 514 of the respective rocking rods 51. At this time, the damping unit 40 produces damping in the vertical vector, and the swinging arms 21 are prohibited from swinging.

When the operator is going to carry out a sliding operating mode, use of the operator's two legs give force to the pedals 32 and the stepping bars 31 horizontally forward, thus forcing the front end portions 311 of the stepping bars 31 to move the swinging portions 212 of the swing arms 21 and causing the swing arms 21 to swing back and forth relative to the transverse rail 121. Thus, the stepping bars 31, the swing arms 21 and the handlebars 71 produce a coordinated cross-linking action subject to the functioning of the linking-up unit 80.

Therefore, an operator can select the desired mode of operation according to one's own needs, such as: the operating mode of free stepping and elliptical trajectory, the sliding operating mode, or the simple operating mode of stepping up and down.

As indicated by the solid line and imaginary line shown in FIG. 6, when the constraint portion 613 is shifted to the right side relative to the screw rod 622 (see also FIG. 3), a first distance D1 is created between the pivot portion 513 of the guiding unit 50 and the center of the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40. Thus, when the sliding guide portions 514 of the rocking rods 51 are being alternatively moved between a low position (see the imaginary lines in FIG. 6) and a high position (see the solid lines in FIG. 6), a relatively smaller treading depth hl is created between the sliding guide portion 514 of the rocking rod 51 (or the rear end portion 312 of the stepping bar 31, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) in the low position and the sliding guide portion 514 of the rocking rod 51 (or the rear end portion 312 of the stepping bar 31, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) in the high position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the motor 621 of the adjusting unit 60 may be started up to rotate the screw rod 622 according to the need of a different operator, such that the constraint portion 613 of the actuation member 61 is moved along the screw rod 622 subject to the screw connection between the screw rod 622 and the nut 614. This causes the actuation member 61 to turn about the axis of the pivot connection portion 611 and to further force the detent portion 612 against the pivot portion 513 of the guiding unit 50 toward the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40. Thus, the treading depth of the rear end portions 312 of the stepping bars 31 is relatively adjusted.

As illustrated by the imaginary lines shown in FIG. 11, if the constraint portion 613 reaches a middle part of the screw rod 622 (see also FIG. 8), a second distance D2 smaller than the first distance D1 is created between the pivot portion 513 of the guiding unit 50 and the center of the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40. Thus, when the sliding guide portions 514 of the rocking rods 51 are alternatively moved between a low position (see the imaginary lines in FIG. 11) and a high position (see the solid lines in FIG. 11), a treading depth h2 relatively greater than the treading depth hl is created between the sliding guide portion 514 of the rocking rod 51 (or the rear end portion 312 of the stepping bar 31, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12) in the low position and the sliding guide portion 514 of the rocking rod 51 (or the rear end portion 312 of the stepping bar 31, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12) in the high position. Further, if the constraint portion 613 is moved toward the left side relative to the screw rod 622 shown in FIG. 11, the treading depth will be relatively increased. On the contrary, if the motor 621 is started up to move the constraint portion 613 toward the right side relative to the screw rod 622 shown in FIG. 11, the treading depth will be relatively reduced. Thus, the adjustment is quite simple.

Accordingly, by using the adjusting unit 60, an operator can adjust the treading depth of the rear end portions 312 of the stepping bars 31. Also, using the adjusting unit 60 to move the pivot portions 513 of the rocking rods 51 of the guiding unit 50 horizontally relative to the pivot shaft 411 of the damping unit 40 does not need to bear the load of the pedal unit 40 or other component parts, and thus, the load capacity of the motor 621 can be minimized to lower the cost and make the adjustment procedure quite simple, thereby achieving the objects of the invention.

It should also be appreciated that the one actuation member 61 and one driving device 62 of the adjusting unit 60 in the above-described embodiment may be configured to drive two guiding units 50. Additionally, the adjusting unit 60 may be configured to provide actuation members 61 and two driving devices 62 for driving two guiding units 50, thereby achieving the desired adjustment effects.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An elliptical exercise machine, comprising: a frame comprising a base, and an upright support fixedly mounted at said base; a swing unit comprising a pair of swing arms pivotally connected to said upright support and swingable back and forth relative to said upright support, each said swing arm comprising a tubular pivot connection portion pivotally connected to said upright support and a swinging portion opposite to said tubular pivot connection portion; a pedal unit comprising a pair of stepping bars respectively pivotally connected to said swing arms, each said stepping bar comprising a front end portion pivotally connected to one respective said swinging portion and a rear end portion opposite to said front end portion; a damping unit adapted for providing swing damping to said stepping bar, said damping unit comprising a rotating wheel mounted at said frame by a pivot shaft; a guiding unit comprising a pair or rocking rods swingable relative to said frame and a pair of connection rods respectively pivotally connected between said rocking rods and said rotating wheel of said damping unit and adapted for driving said rotating wheel to rotate, each said rocking rod comprising a pivot portion, a sliding guide portion disposed at one lateral side relative to said pivot portion and adapted for supporting sliding movement of one respective said stepping bar and a linking portion disposed at an opposite lateral side relative to said pivot portion for the connection of one respective said connection rod; and an adjusting unit mounted at said frame and adapted for moving said pivot portions of said guiding unit relative to said pivot shaft of said damping unit to adjust the treading depth of said rear end portions of said stepping bars.
 2. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting unit comprises at least one actuation member pivotally connected to said frame and at least one driving device adapted for driving said at least one actuation member, each said actuation member comprising a pivot connection portion pivotally connected to said frame, a detent portion disposed at one lateral side relative to said pivot connection portion for the connection of the pivot portion of one respective said rocking rod and a constraint portion disposed at an opposite lateral side relative to said pivot connection portion, each said driving device being adapted for stopping said constraint portion of at least one said actuation member from displacement relative said frame and driving said detent portion of at least one said actuation member to move the pivot portion of at least one said rocking rod relative to said pivot shaft of said damping unit.
 3. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said driving device of said adjusting unit comprises a motor mounted at said frame, and a screw rod rotatable by said motor and screwed up with the constraint portion of one said actuation member.
 4. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said connection rod of said guiding unit comprises a first rod member fixedly connected to said pivot shaft of said damping unit, and a second rod member pivotally connected between said first rod member and said linking portion of one respective said rocking rod.
 5. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said connection rod of said guiding unit comprises a first rod member fixedly connected to said pivot shaft of said damping unit, and a second rod member pivotally connected between said first rod member and said linking portion of one respective said rocking rod.
 6. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claims 3, wherein each said connection rod of said guiding unit comprises a first rod member fixedly connected to said pivot shaft of said damping unit, and a second rod member pivotally connected between said first rod member and said linking portion of one respective said rocking rod.
 7. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handlebar unit and a linking-up unit, said handlebar unit comprising a pair of handlebars respectively connected to said tubular pivot connection portions of said swing arms, said linking-up unit comprising a pivot rod swingable relative to said upright support and a pair of coupling rods respectively pivotally connected between two opposite ends of said pivot rod and the tubular pivot connection portions of said swing arms.
 8. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resistant member is a flywheel rotatably mounted at a top side of said upright support; said damping unit further comprises a belt coupled between said rotating wheel and said flywheel.
 9. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot portion of said guiding unit defines with the center of said pivot shaft of said damping unit a first distance; said sliding guide portions of said rocking rods are alternatively movable between a low position and a high position, and, when said sliding guide portions of said rocking rods are being alternatively moved between said low position and said high position, a relatively smaller treading depth is created between the sliding guide portion of one said rocking rod in said low position and the sliding guide portion of the other said rocking rod in said high position.
 10. The elliptical exercise machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pivot portion of said guiding unit defines with the center of said pivot shaft of said damping unit a second distance shorter than said first distance, and, when said sliding guide portions of said rocking rods are being alternatively moved between said low position and said high position, a relatively greater treading depth is created between the sliding guide portion of one said rocking rod in said low position and the sliding guide portion of the other said rocking rod in said high position. 